Latest news with #Cheech
South China Morning Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Why Cheech & Chong's Last Movie should have audiences rolling in the aisles
Cheech & Chong's Last Movie, which hit cinemas on April 25, answers a lot of questions about the stoner comedy duo's career. Advertisement But it also raises a few big ones along the way, chief among them, given the title: is this truly the final silver-screen session for the pair, now 78 and 86 respectively? And how, after a contentious creative split four decades ago, did they find themselves reunited for, of all things, a documentary? 'It's [actually] the next-to-the-last movie, but that doesn't sound right,' quips Richard 'Cheech' Marin with a slight shrug and a wan chuckle. 'You never know.' 'God only knows,' Tommy Chong says. 'It all depends on the script. Everything depends on the script.' What reunited them on the big screen for the first time since 1984's The Corsican Brothers?
NBC News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Cheech & Chong talk about their 'last' road trip — though it probably isn't
It was almost half a century ago that Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong teamed up for the first time on screen and told a lighthearted story about two pot-smoking buddies on a road trip. Over time, the 1978 movie "Up in Smoke" became a cult classic that transformed the two comedians and actors from hippie outsiders to comedy icons. Now, longtime Cheech and Chong fans or those who want to know more about them can see Marin and Chong reunite on screen in ' Cheech & Chong's Last Movie,' released nationwide Friday. Directed by David Bushell, the documentary weaves never-before-seen footage from Marin and Chong as the two take another road trip — this time spanning five decades of their ultimately widely successful careers spanning platinum albums and box-office fame. 'They found the essence of Cheech and Chong. And that itself is worth exploring, because there's a Cheech and Chong in everybody,' Chong said about the documentary in a joint video interview with Marin. "That's who we are; we're everybody out there. And that's why people can relate to us.' For many fans today, stoner comedy invites them into playful spaces that use humor to blur or soften social boundaries. "Up in Smoke" helped create and popularize a subgenre of later hits like 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' 'Friday,' 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' and 'Pineapple Express,' among many others. But when it first came out, Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" was certainly not a hit with everyone. 'Any film that asks you to go smashed before you see it must have something really bad to hide,' the late Chicago-based film critic Gene Siskel said on his award-winning movie review TV show 'Siskel & Ebert.' Siskel picked 'Up in Smoke' as a 'Dog of the Week' — his choice for worst film — and criticized its dialogue, saying it was "80 minutes of two jerks saying nothing but 'hey man.'' Yet those two casual words, 'hey man,' would nevertheless resonate with many fans and signal a generational change in mainstream culture. 'In their sleepy, unshaven way, Cheech and Chong constitute a visual affront to the straight world just by walking down Main Street,' a 1978 New York Times review said. 'It's a revolution without danger, however, because, as the movie's popularity shows, this particular revolution has already been won. The true eccentrics are no longer Cheech and Chong but the clean‐shaven nitwits, like the cops in 'Up in Smoke,' who persist in their attempts to uphold repressive traditions.' Frederick Luis Aldama, a pop and Latino culture scholar who is the Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin, said in a phone interview that 'if you really distill it, stoner comedy is a great equalizer. It puts the doormat out for everyone to generally enter that place. And it's a reminder for a time and space where you can be yourself, let yourself go.' Aldama remembers seeing 'Up in Smoke' with his maternal 'abuelita' (grandmother). He remembers her 'laughing uproariously' throughout the film, which made him laugh, too. It also gave him a sense of pride as a Latino, he said. Marin grew up in East Los Angeles, the son of Mexican American parents; his father was a World War II Navy veteran and a Los Angeles policeman. Chong grew up in Calgary, the son of a Canadian mother with Scottish and Irish roots and a Chinese father. The comedians, Aldama said, brought elements such as Mexican American lowrider culture into the mainstream, for example, but 'they did it in a way where you weren't asked to judge or laugh at it, but simply enjoy it and laugh with it. And this put a positive spotlight on our communities, our neighborhoods.' Marin's and Chong's childhoods were separated by more than 1,500 miles, and different circumstances would ultimately bring them together in an unexpected way. Marin dodged the Vietnam War by moving to Canada. And Chong, who had been a guitarist for Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, said he lost his job in Motown. 'I was just trying to get my life back together. And Cheech was trying to live with the fact that he had to live in Canada. And then we met,' said Chong, 86. 'We realized that we had this understanding.' The seed for their understanding was planted at a Vancouver topless nightclub where Chong was a part-owner and had formed a hippie-burlesque comedy troupe. Marin would join the group as a writer. And then, the duo continued to develop their stoner act even after the troupe folded. After years of success, the two went their own ways, and they have some frank discussions in the documentary about their relationship. Asked whether comedy could still be transgressive, Marin says it can, as long as there is an authentic connection between the comedian and the audience. 'It depends upon the right comedy and if it's truthful comedy. It's not the comedy that wants to please everybody. We want to please ourselves. And in doing so, [we] do something that's relevant for the people,' said Marin, who's 78. "I think that will keep happening, absolutely." But for comedy to succeed today, Chong said, it can't simply repeat what was done in the past. 'We're living, like, in a travelogue,' he said. 'We're no longer in the '60s, the '70s or the '80s or the '90s. We're now. And so, in order to stay relevant, you got to acknowledge what's going on now. Because we're alive and we're still breathing, we can still think about it.' Asked whether this was really their "last" movie and what would get them together on screen again, Marin said, "Very easy, money!" "No, we're going to keep hammering until they take the cold, warm bong out of my hand," Chong said, as the two men laughed.
Axios
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
15+ things to do for Easter weekend in New Orleans
New Orleans has plenty of things to do for Easter weekend, from parades to crawfish boils to 4/20 mashups. Here are some of your best bets this weekend. Parades 👒 The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade starts at 9:45am at Antoine's and travels to St. Louis Cathedral. It focuses on mule-drawn carriages and convertibles. (Details) 💐 The 40th annual French Quarter Easter Parade rolls at 1pm Sunday. This was previously the Chris Owens parade. (Route) The route for the French Quarter parade was changed this year to avoid Bourbon Street amid enhanced security measures after the terrorist attack, WWL reports. 🎉 The 24th annual Gay Easter Parade rolls at 4:30pm through the Quarter. (Route) 🦞 Crawfish boils Mr. Ed's Oyster Bar in Metairie on Friday. Port Orleans Brewing Co. on Friday and Saturday. Buggin' Out Boils is at Miel Brewery all weekend. Pigeon Caterers has grab-and-go crawfish on Friday. The Basin in Lakeview on Friday. Church pilgrimage and other Easter events ✝ The Nine Church Walk starts at 8am Friday at St. Stephen's Church. Parishioners will walk about 5 miles during the Uptown pilgrimage. (Details) 🐇 The NOLA Bunarchy bar hop starts at 6pm Saturday in the Marigny. (Details) 🪺 Join the grown-up egg hunt Saturday at Port Orleans Brewery. (Details) 🏆 Compete in the annual hat contest at 11am Sunday at the Omni Royal Orleans grand ballroom. (Details) 📸 The Easter bunny is at Lakeside Shopping Center for photos. He's at the Audubon Aquarium too. 🚗 Lakeshore Drive changes The Orleans Levee District is rolling out traffic restrictions and security checkpoints this weekend at the popular Easter weekend destination. The 5-mile stretch from Seabrook Bridge to West End Boulevard will only be open to eastbound traffic, authorities say. They'll also be using boats, helicopters and drones to help patrol. Authorities will be checking for speed, noise, window tint, seatbelt use and license plate violations, according to a statement. 4/20 events 🚬 The Broadside has The Iguanas and a free showing of Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke." The fun starts at 4:20pm Sunday, naturally. (Details) Other things to do 🏃🏽♀️ The Crescent City Classic is Saturday and is one of the oldest 10ks in the country. (Details) 🐴 Celebrate Earth Day at Bayou Fest at the Sankofa wetland park and nature trail. It will have free horseback riding, kayaking and fishing. (Details)
Axios
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Where to stream stoner movies
Streaming platforms have something for everyone this Easter weekend, including stoner classics available to watch on 4/20, the unofficial weed holiday. What we're watching: Catch everything from Cheech and Chong to Harold and Kumar on Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, Max, Parmount +, Tubi and Pluto TV. " Pineapple Express," on Prime Video This Golden Globe-nominated film packs a star-studded cast including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride. " Up In Smoke," on Paramount+ and Pluto TV Credited as the genesis of the genre, this movie from comedy duo Cheech and Chong was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress. " How High," on Tubi This buddy comedy starring rappers Method Man and Redman follow two high school students who (with help from a deceased friend) get scholarships to Harvard. " Half Baked," on Peacock Written by and starring Dave Chappelle, this film follows three guys trying to raise bail money for their friend serving jail-time for killing a police horse. " Mac & Devin Go to High School," on Netflix, Prime Video and Peacock Rapper Wiz Khalifa plays a star pupil who tries to help a 15th-year senior (played by Snoop Dogg) graduate from high school. " Friday," on Netflix and Max Driving the news: New Line Cinema and Ice Cube closed a deal to bring another sequel to this comedy franchise. " Smiley Face," on Tubi Anna Faris and John Krasinski star in this comedy about an actress trying to make it to her audition after consuming cannabis-laced cupcakes. " Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle," on Peacock This cult classic follows two New Jersey roommates (played by John Cho and Kal Penn) who face a bevy of obstacles during their journey to White Castle. " Dude, Where's My Car?" on digital This movie about a pair of buddies who don't remember what they did last night is available to rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube and Google Play.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CPH:DOX Summit to Consider Media Accessibility as a Human Right
Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX is set to launch a Summit in partnership with Documentary Campus and the Danish Producers' Assn. on March 24. The Summit will bring together politicians, thought leaders and film and TV professionals to discuss the future of the industry. It aims to make possible 'cross-sector dialogues, enabling key decision-makers to address pressing issues in documentary filmmaking and audiovisual media, and their crucial role in shaping public discourse,' according to a statement. More from Variety AI in Non-Fiction, Immersive Storytelling, Investigative Journalism and Climate Justice to Be Debated at CPH:DOX James Cameron Joins Palestinian-Israeli Doc 'There Is Another Way' as Exec Producer (EXCLUSIVE) 'Cheech & Chong's Last Movie' Trailer: The Iconic Stoner Duo Reunites for Final Buddy Comedy Doc The event, curated by producer and media consultant Mark Edwards, is open to all accredited guests. 'Discussions will explore how documentary films move beyond conveying facts to foster emotional connections with audiences and deepen public understanding of critical global issues,' the festival said. 'Ensuring access to diverse and authentic storytelling will be highlighted as essential to supporting democratic engagement in a polarized world.' The Summit will also consider media accessibility as a human right and explore the idea of introducing a 'bill of rights for audiences' to guarantee access to a wide range of voices and perspectives. Speakers such as Christo Grozev, Bulgarian investigative journalist and author (Der Spiegel and 'The Insider') and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, a professor of communication at the University of Copenhagen and director at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, will offer insights on the state of information in Europe. Helena Kennedy, chair of the panel of legal experts on media freedom and director of the International Bar Assn.'s Human Rights Institute, will give a keynote address on the topic of media accessibility as a human right. Additionally, Keri Putnam, former executive director of the Sundance Institute, and Matthias Pfeffer, managing director at Council for European Public Space will explore strategies to better connect filmmakers and content creators with audiences across Europe and beyond. Katrine Kiilgaard, managing director of CPH:DOX, said, 'The Summit comes at a pivotal moment as Europe experiences sweeping changes in its media landscape. The prevalence of streaming services and social media has disrupted traditional broadcasters, leading to demands for innovation as well as regulatory change. With social media now the main source of news for many Europeans, the need to work together to build a more inclusive and resilient media ecosystem is more urgent than ever.' Donata von Perfall, managing director of Documentary Campus, said, 'When media professionals and policymakers collaborate more closely, we shape a future where innovation, inclusiveness, and creativity thrive. Culture is a direct voice to the public. We have the shared responsibility to ensure that audiences receive fact-based media formats, which represent diverse voices and drive positive change.' Anna Porse Nielsen, CEO of the Danish Producers' Assn., said, 'The financing of documentary films has always been difficult, but never as much as now. Simultaneously, we live in a time where documentaries are more important than ever and where we need to ensure that production companies can survive and keep bringing stories from all aspects of humanity to both large and small screens.' As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the Summit will examine the impact of AI, from its disruption of copyright and content authenticity to its potential to reshape public discourse. Speakers will stress the need for updated regulation and industry-wide collaboration to navigate these technological shifts while protecting democracy. Additionally, it will explore how public broadcasters, film funds and filmmakers can leverage data and emerging technologies to overcome distribution challenges and connect more effectively with audiences. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
